Advice on a Tow Vehicle

[BassThumb]

If you tow with a midsize SUV you may end up getting pushed around by the boat and thats a bad situation. I've also seen smaller SUV's/Trucks just plain cr@p the bed after a year or two towing boats that they are not made to handle.

Great advice. An 18' glass boat is not light, and I'm assuming it doesn't have trailer brakes. Mine is a 17.5'(Stratos 275) and the whole tow package weighs about 2500 lbs. That will beat the hell out of an underpowered, underequipped tow vehicle, even if you're gentle...MPG, tranny, brakes, suspension, etc.

[Hot Rod]

(Don't mean to hijack)

How important is 4WD? My concern is trying to get back up a wet ramp in my 2WD (if/when I ever get a boat, lol)

Only ever needed to use 4WD once to get up a ramp.  Nice to have it, but I wouldn't say it is essential.  If you have two people you can always use the outboard to give a bit of a "push start".  A Posi-trac rearend might be another option at less cost than 4WD.  Tires have an impact on traction too.

Generally the bigger tow vehicles are going to tow nicer of course like most others have said.  A lot depends on the terrain where you tow (flat vs. mountains/hills) and how far you have to tow is another consideration, as well as if the trailer has brakes. 

Still I wouldn't recommend towing an 18' glass boat with anything less than a full-size truck/suv with a V8.  Not saying other vehicles can't do the job, just that it is a lot safer and more comfortable with full size.

[BassThumb]

How important is 4WD? My concern is trying to get back up a wet ramp in my 2WD (if/when I ever get a boat, lol)

I don't think I've ever needed 4WD (4 HI) on a concrete ramp.  I have never seen any significant tire slippage.  Some of the lakes I fish have sand landings, and I always use 4 LOW on these landing.  4WD is a must then.

[Tpayneful]

Last year I towed my Stratos 294XLE (19.5' 200HP outboard) from Virginia to Florida and back in my 2004 F150 2 wheel drive with a 4.6L V8 and got 13 MPG.  I towed the same boat from Virginia to Florida and back in my 2003 Ford Explorer 4L V6 4x4 and got 10-11 MPG. 

My buddy towed his ZX19 Skeeter (18.5' 150HP outboard) with a 2 wheel drive 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4L V6 and he got 10-11 MPG.

This was the first year that I took the Explorer and the gas mileage was always 20 to 30% worse than my F150.  I have made this trip six times with both aluminum and fiberglass boats and always got 13 MPG with my F150.  The only way that I could see an Explorer getting better gas mileage than an F150 would be if it had a V8.  The F150 weighs 1000lbs more but the engine does not work as hard as the V6.

If you are only going to be towing short distances, a midsize SUV or Truck are both fine.  If you are going to be towing long distances, I would suggest a Truck or full size SUV with a V8.

Stay safe and hope this information helps!

[Pa Angler]

Ford F150, The F Series is the number one selling truck the last 33 years and the number one selling vehicle sold the last two years.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Stingray23]

Heres what my towing vehicle will look like

[Fishing Rhino]

Ford F150, The F Series is the number one selling truck the last 33 years and the number one selling vehicle sold the last two years.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same.  Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150.

It's a meaningless boast by Ford.

If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world.

[Tpayneful]

At least Ford didn't take any tax payer money.....Sorry couldn't help myself :

[Pa Angler]

Ford F150, The F Series is the number one selling truck the last 33 years and the number one selling vehicle sold the last two years.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same. Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150.

It's a meaningless boast by Ford.

If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world.

Check your info the two GM brands together didn't out sell the F series 2009 & 2010.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Fishing Rhino]

At least Ford didn't take any tax payer money.....Sorry couldn't help myself :

You are correct, and I didn't support any bailouts.  In fact, I doubt I'll buy another GM product for that reason alone.

[Fishing Rhino]

Ford F150, The F Series is the number one selling truck the last 33 years and the number one selling vehicle sold the last two years.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same. Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150.

It's a meaningless boast by Ford.

If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world.

Check your info the two GM brands together didn't out sell the F series 2009 & 2010.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

LOL.  There goes the 33 years down to two.  But, since your counting numbers, which I consider meaningless, GM sells more units worldwide than Ford, and has for as long as I can remember, and that goes back to the late 1940s.  By your logic, that has to mean that GM has produced better vehicles than Ford for over 70 successive years.

I quit arguing about cars when I was in my 20s.  To each his own.  I'm secure in what I like.  I feel no need to run down what someone else may choose.

[slonezp]

At least Ford didn't take any tax payer money.....Sorry couldn't help myself :

You are correct, and I didn't support any bailouts. In fact, I doubt I'll buy another GM product for that reason alone.

Depends on how you look at it. They did participate in the cash for clunkers trainwreck.

[Pa Angler]

Ford F150, The F Series is the number one selling truck the last 33 years and the number one selling vehicle sold the last two years.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same. Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150.

It's a meaningless boast by Ford.

If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world.

Check your info the two GM brands together didn't out sell the F series 2009 & 2010.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

LOL. There goes the 33 years down to two. But, since your counting numbers, which I consider meaningless, GM sells more units worldwide than Ford, and has for as long as I can remember, and that goes back to the late 1940s. By your logic, that has to mean that GM has produced better vehicles than Ford for over 70 successive years.

I quit arguing about cars when I was in my 20s. To each his own. I'm secure in what I like. I feel no need to run down what someone else may choose.

GM sells more junk I know I owned them and by far my Fords were more reliable. As far as 33 years down to two Chevy and GMC are seperate divisions I just wanted it to be known that 1 division out sold two that last two years but on a single division vs single division the F sereis rules the last 33 years it's not an argument it's a fact "THE BEST BUILT TRUCKS ARE BUILT FORD TOUGH". I won't buy another GM product as far the last 70 years how many of GM divisions have been lost Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Hummer & Saturn the time for GM to be king is over Ford has increased market share since 2007 but GM has lost market share. Without queston Ford today is producing a better product.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Pa Angler]

Heres what my towing vehicle will look like

Awesome truck. Built Ford Tough.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[J Francho]

Stay on topic......

Out of the OP's original list, only the full size Tahoe is appropriate for anything other than very short towing duty of a boat that size.

Personally, a pickup is preferable.  I've also seen tons of Blazers, Explorers, Pathfinders, etc. types get eaten alive after a year or two towing.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

Personally,i like all american trucks,i like rams the best. I dont really like chevys that much, but i love theyre cars.Theyre very nice and comfy

[ctf58]

I have a 2004 f150 4door 5.4 liter 4x4. Towing a boat or my 1968 Ford 2000 tractor with bushhog on a 16 foot trailer, does not change the mpg that much. It sucks either way. Hwy W/O towing is around 15mpg, With trailer I get 12mpg. I have straight 3" pipes from the headers back, no cats. Bought it used last year for towing. I can not tell a trailer is back there as far as power goes. The trailer and tractor does require trailer brakes otherwise it pushes pretty hard even though I have oversized tires for grip.

Like others have said stopping is as important as going.

4x4 is nice to get up a wet ramp.

I had a 1995 Honda Passport 4x4 v6 that pulled the boat well. Put it in 4x4 low and it would crawl up any ramp. The downside was that it only got 13 mph all day long

[Chaz Hickcox]

GM sells more junk I know I owned them and by far my Fords were more reliable. As far as 33 years down to two Chevy and GMC are seperate divisions I just wanted it to be known that 1 division out sold two that last two years but on a single division vs single division the F sereis rules the last 33 years it's not an argument it's a fact "THE BEST BUILT TRUCKS ARE BUILT FORD TOUGH". I won't buy another GM product as far the last 70 years how many of GM divisions have been lost Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Hummer & Saturn the time for GM to be king is over Ford has increased market share since 2007 but GM has lost market share. Without queston Ford today is producing a better product.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

Ahh, you see this is where it get's subjective.  I had three F-150's, 1997, 1999, and 2001.  ALL THREE dropped their tranny's at 80,000 miles, and I am anal about regular maintenance and scheduled detailed maintenance.  All three of my Silverados have not, but I am only at 45,000 with my current 2008.  Who cares?  Just buy AMERICAN, well as many of the parts as you can.